Sioux Lookout
Today, of all the conference so far, I have been inspired. A bus load (including Kathy B, Cathy H and myself) travelled 4+ hours north west from Thunder Bay to the small town (5500 people) of Sioux Lookout. This afternoon we were given a tour of the new (2010) hospital and returned in the evening for a night of cultural food and the history of the development of this inspiring place. The population in the region is 80% Native American. The history of the ‘first nation’ people is not unlike our own aboriginal people.
The hospital services an area the size of France with 25,000 people in small aboriginal communities many with only access by air. The development of the hospital and the service comes after a 20 year negotiated process to get agreement signed and a subsequent period of planning before the hospital was opened 2 years ago. The hospital design takes into account the spiritual beliefs of the local Indian population. This includes a separate ceremonial / healing place within the hospital. The service allows the use of traditional healing along side the hospital services. Food includes traditional food such as moose, local fish and other game (yumm).
We have been treated to sharing in and tasting the ceremonies, food and more importantly the stories of the people and the journey to create this place. This place shows that it is possible to journey from ‘them’ to ‘them and us’ to …. ‘us’. While this is an obvious exception it does show what can be done.
We return tomorrow morning before heading back to Thunder Bay in the afternoon.
Cheers
Graham